Eighteen years on, much has changed. It’s going to be a different World Cup and, for Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a different role.

One of our 1983 heroes, Sandhu is hoping there is a repeat in the up-coming U-19 World Cup, in New Zealand (January 18-February 9).

Having won the 1999-2000 edition in Sri Lanka, under Mohammed Kaif, India are the reigning champions.

“Our batsmen must click… The more the runs, the easier for our bowlers,” Sandhu, India’s U-19 coach (as also top gun at the NCA), told The Telegraph.

Speaking from his Mumbai residence, Sandhu added: “To be honest, the batsmen weren’t exactly consistent in the lead-up to their selection (earlier this week). But, that could have been because of the pressure of selection… Now, with that pressure off, they should do much better.”

According to the candid Sandhu, right now, he has “more confidence” in the bowlers. “The left-arm quicks (Irfan Pathan and Chandrasekhar Atram) are particularly good. Then, Stuart’s style is a mirror-image of his father’s (1983 World Cupper Roger Binny)… The spinners, too, are effective…”

Significantly, the Support Team includes the Board’s (junior cricket) consultant Dilip Vengsarkar — a former India captain as also a member of that exclusive class of 1983.

[The U-19 lads will have the services of a physical trainer, too.]

“Well, yes, Dilip will have a role in strategy… Then, in the long-term, his feedback (to the Board) will be important,” Sandhu remarked.

One-to-one, Vengsarkar and Sandhu have known each other for over two decades. Being on the same wavelength, then, shouldn’t be a problem.

The Parthiv Patel-led team, incidentally, leaves for Australia (en route to New Zealand) in the early hours of January 4. Three ‘warm-up’ matches have been scheduled during the eight-day stay in Sydney.

Clubbed with South Africa, Bangladesh and Canada, India’s pool fixtures will all be in Auckland (January 21, 23 and 24). Match No. 1 is against Canada, followed by South Africa and Bangladesh.

Sandhu confirmed 16 teams have been divided into four pools. The top two from each will move into the Super League, which will have two groups. The top two finishers will, then, head for the semi-finals.

Pakistan are in a different pool, at the league stage, but an Indo-Pak clash in the eight-team Super League itself — if not later — is, of course, a possibility.

Having worked with all but five players at the NCA, Sandhu is familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of most. And, while he may even have coached star-spangled Mumbai, the current assignment has its own special profile.

“Actually, the time-factor hasn’t been favourable… The team, after all, has just been selected… As coach, I can only help prepare the players mentally and technique-wise. Once on the field, they determine their own destiny,” Sandhu, widely regarded as a “progressive coach,” pointed out.

Predictably, Sandhu is pretty emotional about the job at hand. “It was different back in 1983 but, a repeat in this new role, will be just as satisfying… Yes, I’m keeping fingers crossed…”

With the Indian team consistently producing below-par performances, it’s no surprise there is considerable interest in the U-19s.

Left-arm spinner Shahid Khan took a career-best five for 83 to help Bihar bowl out Bengal for 223 in the first innings on the opening day of the East Zone Ranji Trophy match at Keenan Stadium today.

Bihar were seven for one at stumps with opener Nikhilesh Ranjan and Manish Kumar at the wicket.

Electing to bat, Bengal struggled right from the beginning on a slow turner. But for a 76-run (182 balls), seventh-wicket stand between Utpal Chatterjee and Sanjib Sanyal, they would have fallen short of 200.

Sumit Panda made good use of the early moisture and dismissed opener Arindam Das and Nikhil Haldipur cheaply. Both failed to keep their drives down.

With two down for 21, a lot depended on Deep Dasgupta and Rohan Gavaskar. The latter, with 86, 40 and 166 in previous outings, started well. However, he lost his stumps while attempting a cross-batted shot off a full toss from Shahid.

Deep (15 off 76 balls) was looking good but Shahid claimed him with one that kicked and jumped before landing in the hands first slip. The visitors were 79 for four at lunch. Bengal lost two quick wickets after the break and Devang Gandhi fell after adding just five to his score. Subhamoy Das followed soon.

Devang (36 off 58 balls, 7x4) had things under control and looked good for a big score. He was adjudged leg-before to one, which kept low. Devang was not happy and left the crease only after standing his ground for a while.

Utpal then displayed his prowess with the bat. The veteran left-armer found an ally in Sanyal and used his feet well against the spinners. The drives, pulls and nudges kept the scorer, busy as did the quick singles. Bengal took tea at 172 for six.

Utpal completed his 50 in 88 balls with five fours. Sanyal, who drove and cut with confidence, showed good touch and was looking set.

However, his stay ended when he failed to keep down one from Nikhilesh Ranjan which jumped after pitching.

BENGAL WOMEN IN SEMIS

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Calcutta, Dec. 29:

Bengal women reached the semi-finals (Fita-round, team event) in the 22nd senior national archery championships at Cossipore today. In the quarter finals, Bengal (represented by Sujata Das, Sangita Samanta, Rina Dutta and Indrani Bhattacharjee) brushed aside Maharashtra 209-112. Bengal, last year’s losing finalists, will face Manipur for a place in the final.

Manipur’s B. Geetanjali Devi and Vishalie Lehi of Uttaranchal stole the limelight in the Indian round.

Geetanjali won four golds, while Vishalie stopped one short of that as the duo snatched all but one gold medal on offer on the second day of the meet.

In the individual championships for men, Lalremsanga shocked Limba Ram to move into the quarter finals.

The eighth Oindrilla Kundu Memorial Bridge tournament started at the DKS here today. The meet, spread over two days, will have twelve sessions of eight boards in the Swiss league format.

Today, after four sessions, D. P. Bannerjee’s IV and Lawrence Club ‘B’ were tied with 82 VPs out of a maximum of 100 followed by Roy & Bhattacharya IV & P Ghosh’s IV with 79 VPs each.

The meet, with 73 teams in the fray, will feature stalwarts like Debashis Roy, Sudhir Ganguli, Alok Sadhu, Manas Mukherjee, Rana Roy, Asit Kundu and Debashis Bose, all of whom finished among the winners in the recently-concluded winter nationals here.

RANJIT WINS

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Calcutta, Dec. 29:

Ranjit Singh pipped overnight leader Harinder Gupta to the title in group A of the East India junior golf championships at RCGC. Sri Lanka’s Amrit J. de Soysa, Amanjyot Singh of Jaipur and local boy Rajesh Haldar won the B, C and D categories.

MUMBAI RACING/ DAYS OF GLORY FOR GOLD CUP

BY HONKY DORY

Mumbai, Dec. 29:

The Sorab Sunderji -trained Days of Glory is fancied to win Ranjit V. Bhat Memorial Gold Cup in Mumbai on Sunday. Malcolm Kharadi partners the Placerville-Classic Line five-year-old mare.

SELECTIONS

1.30 pm: Super Cop 1. Chittor 2. Anchors Aweigh 3.

2 pm: Devasva 1. Swift Silver 2. Crackdown 3.

2.30 pm: Combat Bay 1. Rising Passion 2. Mandalay Bay 3.

3 pm: Aureus 1. Amazing Dream 2. Victory March 3.

3.30 pm: Soviet fire 1. Dhanasri 2. Dazzling Gold 3.

4 pm: Days of Glory 1. Green Paradise 2. Top Gun 3.

4.30 pm: Salt Lake 1. Miss Sunshine 2. Quick Decision 3.

5 pm: Adam’s Touch 1. Accademia 2. Senora Jade 3.

5.30 pm: Cape Merino 1. Mystic Lady 2. Wild Love 3.

Day’s Best: Combat Bay

Double: Adam’s Touch & Salt Lake

BANGALORE RACING/ EXTREME CONTACT SCORES

BY TITAN BOY

Bangalore, Dec. 29:

Rashid Byramji’s ward Extreme Contact won the Shantiniketan Cup in Bangalore on Saturday.

Although most of the sponsored events are withdrawn from the New Year’s Day fare, the sport has lost none of its charm as is evidenced by the record number of events framed in the Tuesday card. In the well-packed nine events card, there are four Trophy events, including the Eveready Alkaline Sprinters’ Trophy and the Eveready Indian Produce Stakes — both terms races and over 1,200 metres — in addition of the Nepal Gold Cup over a staying trip of 2,200m and the Oakmead Cup, sprints. There are also prizes for the lucky winners against purchase of Rs 250 betting vouchers from the totalisator. windows. The first race starts a bit too early — at 11.35 am.